The Reconstruction era following the American Civil War sought to redefine the place of newly freed African Americans in society and align Constitutional promises with reality.  History Professor Hasan Kwame Jeffries of The Ohio State University joins host Dr. Katie Crawford-Lackey to discuss contested visions for post-war America among different groups, the impact of the 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments, and efforts to disenfranchise Black voters despite Constitutional protections.

Dr. Jeffries provides historical context on how progress made during Reconstruction was systematically undermined and discusses the tensions between the letter and spirit of Constitutional amendments.